The Night Sky Companion: A Yearly Guide to Sky-Watching 2008 - 2009 (Patrick Moore's Practical Astronomy Series)

The Night Sky Companion is a comprehensive guide to what can be explored in the heavens on a nightly basis. Designed to appeal to readers at all skill levels and involvement, it provides a digest for sky watchers interested in all-in-one-place information that includes history, current events, and of course interesting objects to be observed on any given day. It provides unaided eye observers an opportunity to view many objects or events as well as learn about their history, science and how just "looking up" can be rewarding. It is richly illustrated with finder maps and photographs. Cover......Page 1 Frontmatter......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Ricardo Borba......Page 12 R. Jay GaBany......Page 13 Greg Konkel......Page 14 MMS/AATU......Page 15 Ken Vogt......Page 16 About the Author......Page 17 Introduction......Page 18 Learning the Night Sky......Page 19 Observing Equipment......Page 20 Ready to Observe......Page 24 Ready... Set... Go!......Page 27 Tuesday, January 1......Page 29 Wednesday, January 2......Page 31 Thursday, January 3......Page 33 Friday, January 4......Page 34 Saturday, January 5......Page 36 Sunday, January 6......Page 37 Monday, January 7......Page 39 Tuesday, January 8......Page 40 Wednesday, January 9......Page 42 Thursday, January 10......Page 43 Friday, January 11......Page 45 Saturday, January 12......Page 47 Sunday, January 13......Page 49 Monday, January 14......Page 50 Tuesday, January 15......Page 52 Wednesday, January 16......Page 54 Thursday, January 17......Page 55 Friday, January 18......Page 56 Saturday, January 19......Page 58 Sunday, January 20......Page 60 Monday, January 21......Page 61 Tuesday, January 22......Page 63 Wednesday, January 23......Page 65 Thursday, January 24......Page 67 Friday, January 25......Page 69 Saturday, January 26......Page 71 Sunday, January 27......Page 72 Monday, January 28......Page 75 Tuesday, January 29......Page 77 Wednesday, January 30......Page 78 Thursday, January 31......Page 79 Friday, February 1......Page 82 Saturday, February 2......Page 83 Sunday, February 3......Page 84 Monday, February 4......Page 86 Tuesday, February 5......Page 88 Wednesday, February 6......Page 90 Thursday, February 7......Page 92 Friday, February 8......Page 93 Saturday, February 9......Page 95 Sunday, February 10......Page 96 Monday, February 11......Page 98 Tuesday, February 12......Page 100 Wednesday, February 13......Page 101 Thursday, February 14......Page 103 Friday, February 15......Page 105 Saturday, February 16......Page 107 Sunday, February 17......Page 109 Monday, February 18......Page 110 Tuesday, February 19......Page 111 Wednesday, February 20......Page 112 Thursday, February 21......Page 114 Friday, February 22......Page 115 Saturday, February 23......Page 117 Sunday, February 24......Page 119 Monday, February 25......Page 121 Tuesday, February 26......Page 123 Wednesday, February 27......Page 124 Thursday, February 28......Page 126 Friday, February 29......Page 128 Saturday, March 1......Page 130 Sunday, March 2......Page 133 Monday, March 3......Page 135 Tuesday, March 4......Page 137 Wednesday, March 5......Page 139 Thursday, March 6......Page 140 Friday, March 7......Page 142 Saturday, March 8......Page 145 Sunday, March 9......Page 147 Monday, March 10......Page 149 Tuesday, March 11......Page 150 Wednesday, March 12......Page 152 Thursday, March 13......Page 154 Friday, March 14......Page 155 Saturday, March 15......Page 157 Sunday, March 16......Page 159 Monday, March 17......Page 162 Tuesday, March 18......Page 164 Wednesday, March 19......Page 165 Thursday, March 20......Page 167 Friday, March 21......Page 168 Saturday, March 22......Page 169 Sunday, March 23......Page 170 Monday, March 24......Page 172 Tuesday, March 25......Page 174 Wednesday, March 26......Page 176 Thursday, March 27......Page 178 Friday, March 28......Page 179 Saturday, March 29......Page 181 Sunday, March 30......Page 183 Monday, March 31......Page 185 Tuesday, April 1......Page 187 Wednesday, April 2......Page 189 Thursday, April 3......Page 191 Friday, April 4......Page 192 Saturday, April 5......Page 194 Sunday, April 6......Page 195 Monday, April 7......Page 196 Tuesday, April 8......Page 198 Wednesday, April 9......Page 200 Thursday, April 10......Page 201 Friday, April 11......Page 203 Saturday, April 12......Page 204 Sunday, April 13......Page 205 Monday, April 14......Page 208 Tuesday, April 15......Page 210 Wednesday, April 16......Page 211 Thursday, April 17......Page 213 Friday, April 18......Page 214 Saturday, April 19......Page 216 Sunday, April 20......Page 218 Monday, April 21......Page 219 Tuesday, April 22......Page 220 Wednesday, April 23......Page 222 Thursday, April 24......Page 223 Friday, April 25......Page 225 Saturday, April 26......Page 226 Sunday, April 27......Page 228 Monday, April 28......Page 229 Tuesday, April 29......Page 232 Wednesday, April 30......Page 234 Thursday, May 1......Page 237 Friday, May 2......Page 238 Saturday, May 3......Page 240 Sunday, May 4......Page 242 Monday, May 5......Page 244 Tuesday, May 6......Page 246 Wednesday, May 7......Page 248 Thursday, May 8......Page 249 Friday, May 9......Page 250 Saturday, May 10......Page 251 Sunday, May 11......Page 253 Monday, May 12......Page 255 Tuesday, May 13......Page 257 Wednesday, May 14......Page 260 Thursday, May 15......Page 263 Friday, May 16......Page 264 Saturday, May 17......Page 265 Sunday, May 18......Page 267 Monday, May 19......Page 269 Tuesday, May 20......Page 270 Wednesday, May 21......Page 273 Thursday, May 22......Page 274 Friday, May 23......Page 276 Saturday, May 24......Page 277 Sunday, May 25......Page 278 Monday, May 26......Page 279 Tuesday, May 27......Page 280 Wednesday, May 28......Page 282 Thursday, May 29......Page 284 Friday, May 30......Page 285 Saturday, May 31......Page 286 Sunday, June 1......Page 289 Monday, June 2......Page 290 Tuesday, June 3......Page 291 Wednesday, June 4......Page 293 Thursday, June 5......Page 295 Friday, June 6......Page 296 Saturday, June 7......Page 298 Sunday, June 8......Page 300 Monday, June 9......Page 303 Tuesday, June 10......Page 304 Wednesday, June 11......Page 306 Thursday, June 12......Page 307 Friday, June 13......Page 309 Saturday, June 14......Page 311 Sunday, June 15......Page 313 Monday, June 16......Page 314 Tuesday, June 17......Page 316 Wednesday, June 18......Page 317 Thursday, June 19......Page 319 Friday, June 20......Page 321 Saturday, June 21......Page 322 Sunday, June 22......Page 323 Monday, June 23......Page 325 Tuesday, June 24......Page 326 Wednesday, June 25......Page 328 Thursday, June 26......Page 329 Friday, June 27......Page 331 Saturday, June 28......Page 332 Sunday, June 29......Page 334 Monday, June 30......Page 335 Tuesday, July 1......Page 337 Wednesday, July 2......Page 339 Thursday, July 3......Page 341 Friday, July 4......Page 343 Saturday, July 5......Page 345 Sunday, July 6......Page 348 Monday, July 7......Page 350 Tuesday, July 8......Page 351 Wednesday, July 9......Page 354 Thursday, July 10......Page 355 Friday, July 11......Page 357 Saturday, July 12......Page 358 Sunday, July 13......Page 359 Monday, July 14......Page 361 Tuesday, July 15......Page 363 Wednesday, July 16......Page 364 Thursday, July 17......Page 366 Friday, July 18......Page 368 Saturday, July 19......Page 369 Sunday, July 20......Page 371 Monday, July 21......Page 373 Tuesday, July 22......Page 375 Wednesday, July 23......Page 376 Thursday, July 24......Page 378 Friday, July 25......Page 380 Saturday, July 26......Page 382 Sunday, July 27......Page 383 Monday, July 28......Page 386 Tuesday, July 29......Page 387 Wednesday, July 30......Page 388 Thursday, July 31......Page 390 Friday, August 1......Page 393 Saturday, August 2......Page 396 Sunday, August 3......Page 397 Monday, August 4......Page 399 Tuesday, August 5......Page 400 Wednesday, August 6......Page 402 Thursday, August 7......Page 404 Friday, August 8......Page 407 Saturday, August 9......Page 409 Sunday, August 10......Page 412 Monday, August 11......Page 413 Tuesday, August 12......Page 415 Wednesday, August 13......Page 417 Thursday, August 14......Page 420 Friday, August 15......Page 422 Saturday, August 16......Page 423 Sunday, August 17......Page 425 Monday, August 18......Page 427 Tuesday, August 19......Page 428 Wednesday, August 20......Page 429 Thursday, August 21......Page 431 Friday, August 22......Page 433 Saturday, August 23......Page 434 Sunday, August 24......Page 436 Monday, August 25......Page 438 Tuesday, August 26......Page 439 Wednesday, August 27......Page 441 Thursday, August 28......Page 443 Friday, August 29......Page 444 Saturday, August 30......Page 445 Sunday, August 31......Page 447 Monday, September 1......Page 449 Tuesday, September 2......Page 451 Wednesday, September 3......Page 452 Thursday, September 4......Page 453 Friday, September 5......Page 457 Saturday, September 6......Page 459 Sunday, September 7......Page 461 Monday, September 8......Page 462 Tuesday, September 9......Page 464 Wednesday, September 10......Page 467 Thursday, September 11......Page 469 Friday, September 12......Page 471 Saturday, September 13......Page 472 Sunday, September 14......Page 474 Monday, September 15......Page 476 Tuesday, September 16......Page 478 Wednesday, September 17......Page 480 Thursday, September 18......Page 481 Friday, September 19......Page 482 Saturday, September 20......Page 483 Sunday, September 21......Page 485 Monday, September 22......Page 487 Tuesday, September 23......Page 488 Wednesday, September 24......Page 489 Thursday, September 25......Page 491 Friday, September 26......Page 492 Saturday, September 27......Page 493 Sunday, September 28......Page 496 Monday, September 29......Page 497 Tuesday, September 30......Page 499 Wednesday, October 1......Page 500 Thursday, October 2......Page 502 Friday, October 3......Page 503 Saturday, October 4......Page 505 Sunday, October 5......Page 507 Monday, October 6......Page 510 Tuesday, October 7......Page 512 Wednesday, October 8......Page 514 Thursday, October 9......Page 517 Friday, October 10......Page 519 Saturday, October 11......Page 520 Sunday, October 12......Page 522 Monday, October 13......Page 523 Tuesday, October 14......Page 525 Wednesday, October 15......Page 526 Thursday, October 16......Page 527 Friday, October 17......Page 528 Saturday, October 18......Page 529 Sunday, October 19......Page 531 Monday, October 20......Page 533 Tuesday, October 21......Page 534 Wednesday, October 22......Page 535 Thursday, October 23......Page 537 Friday, October 24......Page 538 Saturday, October 25......Page 541 Sunday, October 26......Page 543 Monday, October 27......Page 544 Tuesday, October 28......Page 545 Wednesday, October 29......Page 547 Thursday, October 30......Page 548 Friday, October 31......Page 549 Saturday, November 1......Page 551 Sunday, November 2......Page 554 Monday, November 3......Page 556 Tuesday, November 4......Page 558 Wednesday, November 5......Page 560 Thursday, November 6......Page 562 Friday, November 7......Page 563 Saturday, November 8......Page 564 Sunday, November 9......Page 567 Monday, November 10......Page 569 Tuesday, November 11......Page 570 Wednesday, November 12......Page 573 Thursday, November 13......Page 575 Friday, November 14......Page 577 Saturday, November 15......Page 579 Sunday, November 16......Page 582 Monday, November 17......Page 584 Tuesday, November 18......Page 586 Wednesday, November 19......Page 587 Thursday, November 20......Page 589 Friday, November 21......Page 590 Saturday, November 22......Page 592 Sunday, November 23......Page 593 Monday, November 24......Page 595 Tuesday, November 25......Page 597 Wednesday, November 26......Page 598 Thursday, November 27......Page 599 Friday, November 28......Page 601 Saturday, November 29......Page 602 Sunday, November 30......Page 604 Monday, December 1......Page 606 Tuesday, December 2......Page 608 Wednesday, December 3......Page 609 Thursday, December 4......Page 611 Friday, December 5......Page 613 Saturday, December 6......Page 615 Sunday, December 7......Page 616 Monday, December 8......Page 618 Tuesday, December 9......Page 620 Wednesday, December 10......Page 622 Thursday, December 11......Page 623 Friday, December 12......Page 625 Saturday, December 13......Page 628 Sunday, December 14......Page 630 Monday, December 15......Page 632 Tuesday, December 16......Page 633 Wednesday, December 17......Page 635 Thursday, December 18......Page 637 Friday, December 19......Page 638 Saturday, December 20......Page 640 Sunday, December 21......Page 642 Monday, December 22......Page 644 Tuesday, December 23......Page 645 Wednesday, December 24......Page 647 Thursday, December 25......Page 648 Friday, December 26......Page 650 Saturday, December 27......Page 651 Sunday, December 28......Page 653 Monday, December 29......Page 654 Tuesday, December 30......Page 656 Wednesday, December 31......Page 658 Albedo......Page 660 Asteroid......Page 661 Belts......Page 662 Celestial Sphere......Page 663 Culmination......Page 664 Dwarf Star......Page 665 Equinox......Page 666 Galactic Cluster......Page 667 Half Moon......Page 668 Intergalactic......Page 669 Limb......Page 670 Main Sequence......Page 671 Multiple Star......Page 672 Opposition......Page 673 Photon......Page 674 Quark......Page 675 Resolving Power......Page 676 Separation......Page 677 Spectroscopy......Page 678 Supernova Remnant......Page 679 Umbra......Page 680 X-ray Binary......Page 681 Zones......Page 682 Thebookyouareholdinginyourhandsisoneofthebestlearningandoutreach tools you could want for your collection. The Night Sky Companion is full of informationaboutastronomy.Thinkofhowmanytimesyouhavewalkedoutside, lookedatthestarsandwonderedwhatnewthingsyoucouldexplore.Maybeyou areabeginnerandyouwanttolearnthebasicsofstargazing,orperhapsyou're a seasoned sky veteran. Either way, I bet you will see and learn something new each night. I have used Tammy Plotner's previous books to help plan my outreach programs. Not only do they tell you what you can see in the night sky, just as this book does, but they also explain some of the history and science which has brought us to this point. You will quickly realize astronomy is what you make it. It can be extremely challenging or very relaxing: it's up to you to decide. With this book, you can use telescope or binoculars of any size—or just kick back under the Milky Way and enjoy the view. It will be your “companion” to help you discover our galaxy. Picture yourself enjoying a warm August night watching the Perseid meteor shower, or seeing the Harvest Moon rise. While the spring holds the promise of bright planets and distant galaxies, there is somethingtobesaidaboutthoselong,coldwintereveningstoo!Youcanspend hoursobservingandstillgettobedbeforemidnight.Witheachchangingseason, with every constellation wheeling overhead, Tammy will show you the best of the night sky. ThewealthofinformationhereabouttheMoonwillamazeyou.Waituntilyou point a telescope its way and find a specific crater. Suddenly, the lunar terrain takes on a new look. It has a stark beauty which will keep you coming back. ix OhioAurorainMay(Credit—TerryMann). Foreword xi Both beginning and advanced amateur astronomers will enjoy this book.

the Night Sky Companion Takes A Look At Astronomy Every Day Over The Course Of The Year – Offering An Overview Of General History, Soft Science, Astronomical Trivia, And Observing Guides And Motivation. Designed To Appeal To Readers At All Skill Levels And Involvement, It Provides A Digest For Sky Watchers Interested In All-in-one-place Information That Includes History, Current Events, And Of Course Interesting Objects To Be Observed On Any Given Day. The Moon Is Followed Through Its Phases With Observing Instructions, Annotated Pictorial Maps, Concise Photos, And The Science And History Of What Makes Lunar Observing A Fascinating Challenge.

unaided Eye Observers Are Offered An Opportunity To View Many Objects Or Events; Learn About Their History, Science And How Just Looking Up Can Be Rewarding.

binocular And Small Telescope Users Will Find A Wealth Of Things To View Using Simple Star Hop Instructions And Finder Charts. This Book Is More Than Just An Observing Guide, It's A Way Of Learning Your Way Round The Night Sky.

large-aperture Telescope Users Looking For A Challenge Are Not Ignored Either. Some Of The Finest Deep-sky Objects Are Detailed, With Finder Maps And Photographs, Most Of Them Taken By Talented Amateurs.

be It A Meteor Shower, Double Stars, Variable Stars, Solar Viewing, Lunar Features, A Variety Of Catalog Studies, History Or The Physics And Science Behind The Stars - You'll Find It Here, Written In An Easy-going Style Ideal For ‘dipping In’ On The Relevant Day, Or Even Reading From Cover To Cover.

The The Night Sky Companion is far more than just an observing guide. It is a year's journey into the science and facts of astronomy and space travel, along with some of its history and the and the men and women who made it. If you're a sky watcher equipped with any kind of astronomical telescope, binoculars, or even just your eyes, you are sure to find this book absolutely fascinating. Taking a day-by-day look at the sky over the course of the whole year, Tammy Plotner has assembled a digest to appeal to all astronomers and would-be astronomers. Turn these pages and you'll find observing recommendations - including how to locate the object you're looking for - along with a wealth of information touching on every aspect of your observation. It doesn't matter whether it's a meteor shower, nebula, double star, variable star, lunar crater, or even the Sun: if it's an interesting feature of the 2008 - 2009 observing year, you'll find it here! "The Night Sky Companion is more than just an observing guide. It is a year's journey into the science and facts of astronomy and space travel, along with some of its history and the men and women who made it." "Taking a day-by-day look at the sky over the course of a whole year, Tammy Plotner has assembled a digest to appeal to astronomers and would-be astronomers. Turn these pages and you'll find observing recommendations - including how to locate the object you're looking for - along with a wealth of information touching on every aspect of your observation."--book jacket